Teva Settled Patent Dispute with Pfizer

Pfizer and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has settled patent litigation over Teva’s sale of generic versions of Pfizer’s Zithromax (generically known as Azithromycin) antibiotic and Idamycin (generically known as Idarubicin) cancer medication. Under the terms of agreement, Teva will pay Pfizer up to $70 million and agrees not to contest the validity of the patents at issue. However, Teva will continue to market its generic versions of the drugs. The settlement deal also includes an option in 2007 for Teva to sell its own generic version of another cancer drug, Ellence generically known as epirubicin hydrochloride, prior to the August 2007 patent expiry. Earlier in on February 09, 2006 Pfizer petitioned the U.S. FDA to recall generic versions of Zithromax sold by Teva and Sandoz on the ground that the generic products inaccurately equated their active ingredients with the active ingredient of Zithromax. The petition is still pending with the U.S. FDA. Pfizer also has patent litigation pending against Sandoz over Zithromax.